Process and machine for combing textile fibers



R. SCHLEIFER.

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6, T918.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- R. SCHI EIFER. PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR COMBINE TEXTILE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILE D AUG-61 1918.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETSSI'IEET 2.

RICCARDO SOHLEIFER, OF TURIN, ITALY.

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR- COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS.

Application filed August 6, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Rroosnoo SCHL-EI'FER, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Ma- .chincs for Combing Textile Fibers; and 1.

do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the samex reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved machine for combing textile fibers as sill; or cotton, and comprises two or more series of nippers, the nippers of each series being arrr ipged uniformly apart in a circle upon supporting members revolving on parallel shafts with a synchronous intermittent motion, and being adapted to grip and hold, or to release at desired times the bunches of fibers to be combed by combing cylinders.

The iwrention consists also in a combing machine oi the type above referred to, which comprises in combination, means acting intermittently for feeding the lap of fibers to be combed during the sto iiping' period into a uipper of the first series and tor limiting the length of the bunch to be torn off the lap during the next following movement of the nipper; oneor more pairs of coinbiiiig drums, the drums of each pair rotating in opposite directions. so to comb both sides of the tree end of the bunch of fibers, means acting intermittently for introducing the combed head portion of the bunch into a nipper of the following series; one or more pairs of combing cylinders rotating in opposite directions so as to comb both sides of the end oi the bunch which has not been previously :combedi, and means operating; during stopping period, for taking out and. carrying away from the nippcr of the last series the bunch of fibers.

The invention also consists in the improved combing machine as herein after more particularly referred to.

A practical construction of the improved combing machine is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which:

Fig. l is a View of the general arrangement of the essential parts oi? the improved machine.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. *7, 1922,

Serial No. 248,533. 7

Figs. 2 to parts.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate modifications of the general arrangement of the improved machine,

In these drawings, the parts of the improved. machine are shown without their drives, for the sake of simplicity and clearness, as well as for the reason that such drives may be of form capable of producing kinematically the movements required for working the machine; for eXample the stepping of the drums and operation of the nippers may be effected by mechanism such as illustrated in -.U. S. Patent No. 34,606, and in U. S. Patent No. 607,643.

In Fig. 1 it is assumed that the improved combing machine comprises only two series of nippers each composed of eight nippers, l, 2, and l, 2, space-d equally apart in a 7 illustrate the operational its circle near the periphery of two discs or drums 3 and 3 mounted so as to rotate on two parallel shafts 4t and spaced suitably apart. At least one of the jaws, l, 2 and 1' 9 constituting the nippers is movable (id the example shown the jaws f2 and 2 are movable), whilst the opening and closing of these jaws is regulated by means of any suitable parts not shown, operating at the de sired times. The discs 3, 3 which are driven by any suitable means, revolve intermittently andv in the direction of the arrows through angular distances which are equal to the angle enclosed by the axes of two adjacent nippers. Consequently, in the case of Fig. 1, they rotate intermittently through 45, that is to say, through an eighth of a revolution. For the sake of clearness in the following description the intermittent motion of the discs 3, 3 will be referred to as being one-eighth of a revolution.

From the foregoing it is to be understood that at the end of each rev: of the discs 3, 3, each pair of nippers of one series will stop successively at the stopping stations at, c, (l, e, 7", g, 72 and o 7), c, d, c, f, 5 72, re- 7 spectively, and will occupy the station which was occupied by the nipper that preceded it in the direction of" the revolution. The said stopping stations of the two series of nippers are so arranged that two corresponding stations in the two series will be situated opposite each other on a line passing through the axes of the shafts 4-, at (as shown in the case of the stations and a in Fig. 1), so that two nippers belonging to two different chines of 'Heilmann, Nasmith, etc. Cooperating with the feeddevice is a curved I blade 7 fixed to a rocking arm 8 which imrev. of the disc 3a rapid oscillatory motion at the end of which the blade 7 introduces the end of the lap 6 into the cooperating nipper 1, 2. Two or more straight combs 9 adapted to rock in their own plane at each rev. of the disc 3, are arranged to cooperate with the feed device in such a manner as to engage simultaneously in the lap 6.

Corresponding to two successive stopping stations which may be adjacent or not adjacent to each other, for instance the stations c, d. there are arranged two combing drums P rts to it at each p 10 and 11 of the usual type, lGVOlVilig in opposite directions and provided each for a certain portion of their periphery with teeth. The number of teeth per unit of surface ot thecombing drum increases in. one direction, the direction of movement of the combing plrum being such that the bunch of fibers is first met by that part of the drum where there are less teeth.

Corresponding with two stations situated. opposite to each other, such as f, a, of the two discs 3 and 3, there is arranged a curved blade 12 1 red to the rocking arm 13 which imparts to it at each rov. of the discs 8, 3 a rapid oscillatory motion at the end of which, as will be more clearly understood hereinafter, the blade 12 introduces the previousiy combed end of a bunch held by a nipper 1, 2 or" the disc 3 into a nipper 1, 2' of the disc 3. I Corresponding to two successive stopping stations which may be adjacent or not, of the disc 3, "for instance the stations 0. (Z, there are arranged two combing drums 10, 11 similar to the drums 10, 11, and rotating in opposite directions to each other. 7

Corresponding to a successive station, for instance 7" of the disc 3', there is arranged a discharging device'consisting for instance of an endless web conveyor 1 1 to which a roller 15 revolving at each rev. of; the discs 3, 3 with a rapid rotary motion, imparts at intervals arapid movement of translation such that a completely combed. hunch is gripped. between the said web and the pressing roller. 16, and is discharged. 'With the discharging device there operates the curved blade '17 which is fixed to the arm 18 and which receives from the latter at each l;

rev. of the discs 3, 3', a rapid oscillatory motion such that as will be more clearly understood from a description hereinafter given, the said blade will draw the end of the completely combed bunch out of the corresponding nipper 1, 2 of the disc 3, and bend it back against the web 14:.

Fig. 8 illustrates diagrammatically a modification of the combing machine wherein the combing drums are four (10, 11, 10, 11, and 10, 11, 10 11 in number for each series of nippers.

9 illustrates diagrammatically a modification oi": the combing machine wherein between the first and last series of nippers there is arranged an intermediate series oi: nippers 1, 2" supported by a disc 3 revolving on the shaft 4:

The operation or" the improved combing machine constructed as shown in Fig. 1 is as follows VVhenan open nipper 1, 2 of the disc 3 stops at the station a facing the feed device 5, the end of the lap oi? fiber 6 ted by the device 5 is introduced into the said nipper (Fig. 1) by means of the curved blade 7 which enters therein with a rapid oscillatory motion. When the curved blade '7 moves back again (Fig. 2), the jaws 1, 2 close and the straight combs 9, 9 also close together piercing the lap 6. During the next rotation of rev. of the disc 3, the nipper 1, 2 in question draws the fibers ofthc lap 6 through the combs 9, 9 and removes a bunch of fibers 6 3). it is to be noted that the straight combs 9, 9 are not designed to comb the fibers as in the combing machines of the Heilmann and similar types, but to hold the fibers during the tearing oil of a bunch and of thus restricting the tearing zone between the lap 6 and the bunch 6 that being torn oil". Consequently these combs 9, 9 have a smaller number of teeth than is .usually employed. As soon as the bunch 6 has been torn 0E and whilst the nipper in question is about to arrive at the stopping station Z), the combs 9, 9 open again and the feed device 5 is ready to'operate to feed another bunch to the next following nipper which is about to stop the station a. li ieanwhilathe nipper 1, 2 first referred to, having arrived at the station Z), stops there houtthe bunch (3 being'subiected to any operation. During the two successive stoppages at the two following rotations of rev oi the disc 3, the nipper in question stops successively at the stations 0 and (Z where the combing drums 10 and 11 comb the free end of the bunch 6 on one side and the other respectively 1). 'After another '1 rev. of the disc 3, the nipper in question stopsat the station 6 (Fig. 1) without the bunch 6 undergoing any operation. After. another rev. of the disc 3, the nipper in question stops at the station f (-Fig. 4)

facing another open nipper 1, 2 of the disc 3 that has stopped at the station a. The oscillating curved blade 12 then moves with q of the nipper 1. 2, and thereby introduces the combed. end of the bunch 6 into the said nipper (Fig. 1'). As soon as the curved blade 12 has moved back again (Fig. 5),.the nipper 1, 2 which has stopped at the station f, opens, and the nipper 1, 2 which has stopped at the station it, closes. In this manner the bunch 6 is gripped and held at its opposite end by -the nipper 1. 2, of the disc 3.

In the following rotation of 3; rev. of the disc 3, the nipper 1, 2 in question moves to the station 7), and the bunch 6 is removed out of the nipper oi? the disc which continues its intermittent motion, whilst its nippers remain open until station a is reached where the feeding begins again as above.

During the two successive stoppages at the following rotations of rev. of the disc 3, the nipper l, 2 in question stops successively at stations 0 and d where the combing drums 10, 11, comb the tail of the bunch 6 respertively on one side and the other (Fig. 1). After another rev. of the disc 3, the nipper l, 2 in question ,will

stop at station a without the completely combed bum-h 6 being subjected to any further operation. After another 5; rev. of the disc 3. the nipper l, 2 in question will stop at station 7 "facing the discharging device. Then the combed tail oi the bunch 6 will take up a position (Fig. 6) atthe head end of the last bunch of the layer of bunches 6 already combed lying on the web 14. At this moment the roll 15 makes a rapid rotary movement (Fig. 7) so that the tail of the bunch 6 is drawn in between the web 1% and the pressing cylinder 16, whilst the nipper 1, 2 in quest-ion will open. Then the curved'blade l7 descends and with a rapid oscillatory movement draws the head. of the bunch 6 out of the uipper 1, 2 and bends it down on to the web 14; ready to receive the tail of the combed bunch (3 following on (Fig. 1). While the curved blade 17 is returning into its position of rest, the disc 3 continues its intermittent motion, and its nippers remain open until the station a is reached facing which the feeding of the bunches in the reversed position is begun again as above described.

That which has been stated with reference to one bunch of fibers is repeated at each rev. in the case of all the "following bunches, which latter at each rev. are torn oil? the lap 6 and after having been subjected to the above described working operations, are discharged on to the web 14 in the form of a kind of lap of combed fibers 6" which is removed in any suitable manner.

u rapid oscillatory motion into the interior means of. the os:.-illating combs 23 2.3.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the period during which the various parts of the machine repeat the same mirement, which period is equal to a complete revolution of the combing-cylinders 10, 11 and 10, 11, may be subdivided into two stages. In one stage the bunch to be combed is torn off, and the members supporting the nippers rotate through a distance equal to the angle enclosed by the axles of two adjacent nippers. During the second stage the members supporting the nippers are stationary and the following movements take place, namely, the feeding of a nipper; the combingv of opposite sides of the head portions of several successive bunches; the reversal oi: a bunch; the combing of opposite sides of the tail portions of several successive bunches; and finally the discharge o1 a combed bunch. These two stages are of approximately equal duration so that the comhing drums may be provided use-fully with teeth over about half their periphery. This circumstance concurrently with the other circumstance that the combing, both of the head portion and the tail portion of the bunches, is effected on both. sides always by means of combing drums and not partly by means of straight combs as is the case in the combing machines of Heilmann, Nasmith and the like, allows of charging the nippers which may have a considerable transverse width, with a quantity of material much greater than is usually charged at each stroke in the usual combingmachines. For this reason the improved combing machine of the present invention in addition to producing a better product, gives also a larger output.

The operation of the improved combing machine constructed as shown in Fig. 8, is exactly the same as hereinbefore described with reference to the construction shown in Fig. 1, with the sole'exception that owing to four combing drums being provided for each series of nippers, both sides of the head. and tail portions of each bunch are combed twicewhich may be of advantage for certain fibers.

The operation of the improved combing machine constructed as illustrated in Fig. 9, differs simply in this that each bunch is reversed twice and the head portion of each bunch is combed twice.

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically the parts constituting a head of a combing machine capable of treating one lap of fibers, but it is to be understood that the improved combing machine may comprise a-plurality of such heads for the purpose of treating simultaneously a plurality of laps of fibers, as is the case in many known combing machines.

7 It has also been assumed that the, number of nippers on each disc is eight, but it-is to be noted that this number, besidesfbeing different for different discs, may be any number provided it is not less than that of the stopping stations Which is indispen sable for the operation of the machine. Likewise the combing drums may be provided to the number of one or more for each series of nippers, and also thenumber of series of nippers may be any number from a minimum of tWo. y

In the improved combing machine as hereinbefore described, it is assumed that the opening, closing, charging and discharging of the nippers take place automatically, but it is to be understood that these opera,- tions may also be effectedby hand in a manner similar to that practised in drum-combing machines of the Brenier Neyret type.

'It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited in any ay to the precise arrangements described and illustrated, andthat Without departing from its essential nature it may be modified in any manner which circumstances or practical requirements may render necessary or advantageous.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the sameis to be performed, I declare that What I claim is 1. In a combing machine, mechanism for feeding the lap and a comb on each side of the path of the lap as it passes from the feeding mechanism, said combs entering the lap and limiting the len th of bunch being 'nippers.

3, In a combing machine, a head having periodic rotation, nippers angularly spaced on said head in correspondence to said periodic rotation, two rotary combs, each comb having an increasing number or teethper unit of area, said combs rotating in opposite directions and arranged to first engage a bunch oft fibers With its area having the least number of teeth.

i. In a combing machine two periodically rotating heads, nippers angularly displaced around said heads, rotating combs co-operating With said nippers, a blade to posi-' tively insert the projecting end of a bunch oi fibers held in the nippers of one head into the open nippers of the second head.

5. The combination with a periodically rotating head having nippers thereon, of a discharge mechanism comprising an endless Web, a pressure cylinder co-operating there with to seize Within its nip the end of a bunch of fibers presented thereto by a pair of nippers, and a blade ar anged to pass be tween the nippers and the discharging device after the end of a bunch has been seized by said discharging device to positively withdraw the bun-ch from the nippers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name.

inooanno scnnnirnn. 

